Coupling mechanisms for tractor semi-trailer vehicle combinations having connecting means for the electrical, pneumatical hydraulical service lines from the tractors to the semi-trailers

ABSTRACT

A coupling mechanism for a tractor semi-trailer vehicle combination comprises a fifth wheel mechanism supported on the tractor and king pin means supported on the semi-trailer, and the fifth wheel mechanism comprises a locking bolt and the king pin means is arranged to be engaged by the locking bolt for securing the coupling therebetween in such a way that pneumatical and electrical connector members housed in the locking bolt and in the hollow king pin means after connection are held together without undue rotational movements between the parts.

[ 1 Jan. 16, 1973 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ABSTRACT A coupling mechanism for a tractor semi-trailer vehi- 8/1932 Davis...

2/1969 11 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant ExaminerRobert R. Song Attorney-Beveridge & DeGrandi cle combination comprises a fifth wheel mechanism supported on the tractor and king pin means supported on the semi-trailer, and the fifth wheel mechanism comprises a locking bolt and the king pin means is arranged to be engaged by the locking bolt for securing the coupling therebetween in such a way that pneumatical and electrical connector members housed in the locking bolt and in the hollow king pin means after connection are held together without undue rotational movements between the parts.

Ralf Krister Ebbe Petersson, 380 44 Alsterbro, both of Sweden [73] Assignee: Kalmar Verkstadsaktiebolag, Kal- VIIIIIIIIIaYIIII/III Kalmar;

mar, Sweden Aug. 12, 1970 Appl. No.: 63,175

Umted States Patent [1 1 Holmberg et a1.

TRACTOR SEMI-TRAILER VEHICLE COMBINATIONS HAVING CONNECTING MEANS FOR THE ELECTRICAL, PNEUMATICAL HYDRAULICAL SERVICE LINES FROM THE TRACTORS TO THE SEMI- TRAILERS Inventors: Roland Bengt Holmberg, 381 00 Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 13,1969 Sweden............................

[54] COUPLING MECHANISMS FOR [22] Filed:

[58] Field of Search.

PATENTEDJAN 16 1915 3.711. 122 SHEET near 12 mvewroas:

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' RALF KRISTER 555E E-rsnssou giBeue-r Rom/1v Hot-M5526 This invention relates to a coupling mechanism for a tractor semi-trailer vehicle combination comprising a semi-trailer coupling member with a fifth wheel or like support secured to the tractor for the semi-trailer and an opening in said support for receiving a king pin secured to the semi-trailer, and connecting means for establishing electrical, pneumatical and/or hydraulical connection of the service lines from the tractor to the semi-trailer simultaneously with establishing the mechanical coupling of the tractor and the semi-trailer.

The primary object of the invention is to provide compact service line connector members which are suited to be built into mechanical semi-trailer couplings and which are interconnected automatically when the mechanical coupling is established between the tractor and semi-trailer.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a tractor semi-trailer coupling mechanism in which the coupling member secured to the tractor comprises a hollow locking bolt and the king pin in the coupling member secured to the semi-trailer is hollow for engagement of the locking bolt in the king pin or vice versa, the hollow king pin in at least an upper portion thereof receives a connector member with connecting means for electrical power lines, pneumatical lines and/or hydraulical lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, and the hollow locking bolt comprises a connector member complementary to said first connector member and having connecting means for feed lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer.

Preferred embodiments of this coupling mechanism have the characteristic features appearing from the appended subclaims.

An additional advantage of the coupling mechanism suggested by the present invention is that the coupling member secured to the semi-trailer can be exploited for making use of control or operating pulses in dependence on the relative angular articulation of the tractor and the semi-trailer during driving.

These and further features of and advantages gained by the invention will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a tractor with a semitrailer coupled thereto, that can be used as a full trailer in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the semi-trailer shown in FIG. 1 in parking position or in position as a full trailer;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the vehicle combination in FIG. I, with the coupling mechanism in side elevation;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fifth wheel shown in FIG. I and carried by a movable frame section of the tractor;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the vehicle frame on line V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on a larger scale of the coupling mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of a unit consisting of a locking bolt according to the invention and the operating mechanism thereof prior to mounting on the tractor in FIG. 1 or after dismounting;

FIG. 8 is a detailed horizontal section taken on line VIII-VIII in FIG. 9 ofa slightly modified embodiment of the coupling me mber secured to the trailer;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section of the coupling member in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of an electrical contact element having a movable contact;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a connector member of the fifth wheel unit for electrical and pneumatical interconnection with a corresponding connector member in the coupling member secured to the trailer when the trailer is used as a semi-trailer;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line XII-XII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a view of an operating device;

FIG. 14 is a basic diagram illustrating the electrical and pneumatical circuits in the automatic semi-trailer coupling mechanism according to the invention when the tractor is driven without semi-trailer;

FIG. 15 shows a view similar to FIG. 14 but illustrating the connection of the circuits when the tractor is driven with a semi-trailer.

The tractor 1 shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with both a semi-trailer coupling mechanism according to the invention and a conventional trailer coupling mechanism, and the semi-trailer 2 illustrated can be used also as a full trailer. It is therefore equipped with both a semi-trailer coupling mechanism and a trailer coupling mechanism.

The trailer coupling parts mounted on the tractor l and those mounted on the trailer/semi-trailer 2 may be of conventional design and are not described here in detail. However, certain elements of these parts are mentioned in the following and are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

To permit using the trailer as a semi-trailer the front wheels 3 of the trailer can be raised, in accordance with the invention, by means of a lifting device 4 which is of the pneumatical type in the illustrated embodiment. Moreover, the automatic coupling mechanism according to the invention includes a lifting device 5 for height adjustment of a vertically movable section 6 of the vehicle frame I. Said frame section which is pivoted to the main frame of the vehicle carries the semi-trailer coupling member 7 of the tractor, which is to be engaged with a complementary coupling member 8 mounted on the trailer 2. The height adjustment device 5 is a pneumatical type lifting device and is arranged between the vehicle frame 1' and the pivotally mounted vehicle section 6 to enable height adjustment of the fifth wheel 9 of the coupling member 7, which is mounted on the frame section 6. If desired, the height adjustment device 5 can be used as spring means in combination with shock absorbers 10 (FIG. 3).

After this general orientation about the mechanisms and devices according to the invention for using the trailer 2 as a semi-trailer and the various means provided for this purpose, the coupling mechanism 7, 8 proper will now be described more in detail.

The two coupling members 7, 8 are shown engaged in side elevation in FIG. 3 and in vertical section in FIG. 6. The mechanical coupling member secured to the tractor comprises, as already mentioned, a fifth wheel 9 which is in the shape of a horseshoe (see FIG. 4) and a locking bolt 11 displaceably mounted centrally in the hollow space of the fifth wheel. The vertical locking bolt 11 is displaceable in a bearing bushing 12 which is connected to a vertically downwardly directed sleeve-shaped portion 14 of a plate 9' forming the bottom plate of the fifth wheel 9. The locking bolt 11 is sealed in relation to the bearing bushing 12 by means of a packing 15. The fifth wheel 9 is carried on the pivotally mounted vehicle frame section 6 which in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 consists of two parallel frame beans 16a, 1612 which at their front ends are connected to the vehicle frame 1 by fulcrums 17a, 17b. At their rear ends the two frame beams 16a, 16b are connected to fastenings at the underside of the fifth wheel 9 by means of rubber bearings 18a, 18b to allow a certain resilience of the fifth wheel relative to the two frame beams 16a, 16b.

The locking bolt 11 which is displaceable in the bearing bushing 12 connected to the fifth wheel 9 is hollow and has an inner supporting flange 18 carrying an insulator body 19 which is inserted in the locking bolt and consists of for instance molded plastics material and contains air pressure and electrical power service lines which are described more in detail in the following. In the. lower half of the hollow locking bolt 11 there is inserted a strong spring 20 which bears with its upper end against the supporting flange l8 and with its lower end engages the bottom of a compressed air box 21 which in a bottom hole receives and snugly embraces an insert in the form of a sleeve 22 which contains an insulator body 23 of for instance plastics material with air pressure and electric power service lines leading from the tractor to the air pressure and electrical power connections in the insulator body 19, is sealingly connected at its upper open edge to the lower part of the sleeve 12, which is directed downwardly from the fifth wheel 9, and contains a flexible annular diaphragm 24 which is tightly secured between the two halves of the compressed air box 21 with its outer marginal portion and is tightly clamped against the underside of the locking bolt 11 with its inner circumferential margin by means of a clamping ring 25. The annular diaphragm 24 divides the space in the circular compressed air box 21 into a lower chamber 26 and an upper chamber 27. The upper chamber 27 is connected through an air conduit 28 to an air feed conduit in the tractor. By the supply of compressed air to the upper chamber 27 the diaphragm 24 can be'urged downwardly towards the bottom of the compressed air box 21, the diaphragm taking the locking bolt 11 along downwardly against the action of the spring 20 which tends to hold the locking bolt 11 in the upper position engaged with the hollow king pin 30 which is part of the semi-trailer coupling member 8 secured to the trailer 2.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and in the modification shown in FIG. 9 the king pin 30 consists of a sleeve-shaped body having an upper flange 31 which 7 ment between the locking bolt 11 and the king pin 30 the latter is retained in its position in the horseshoeshaped fifth wheel 9 with the annular flange 34 engaged in the groove 35 beneath the flange 36 of the fifth wheel 9. Vertical movement of the king pin 30 is prevented by the mutual engagement between the flanges 34 and 36. The front end 32 of the semi-trailer rests with the bottom plate 33 on the upper side of the fifth wheel 9, allowing for the requisite pivot movement. Wear of the coupling mechanism 7, 8 takes place between the king pin 30 and the fifth wheel 9, while the pull is essentially taken up by the locking bolt 11 which is mainly exposed to shear.

Mounted in the upper part of the annular or sleeveshaped king pin 30 is an air pressure and electrical power connector member in the form of a box 40 at the ends of two flexible air hoses 41 and one or two flexible electrical cables 42 for supplying air pressure and electrical power from the tractor to the trailer. Said connector member 40 comprises a sleeve 43 and an extension 43 thereof and contains an outer insulator body 44 and an upper insulator body 45 which correspond to the insulator bodies 19 and 23 in the locking bolt 11. The electrical power cables extend through the upper insulator body 45 to the upper end of the insulator body 44, which serves as a terminal block. The unit formed by the elements 40-45 is rotatably mounted in the sleeve-shaped king pin 30 and in the upper wall 46- of the frame section 32 at the front end of the trailer 2. As will appear more clearly from the modification in FIG. 9 the unit 4045 described can be mounted in the sleeve-shaped king pin 30 by means ofa self-lubricating flange bearing .47. A dirt protective element or gasket 48 may be connected to the unit 40-45 by means of bolts 49 and so arranged as to have sliding contact at 50 with the upper end of the king pin 30. The extension member 43' of the sleeve 43 may be sealed at the wall 46 by means of a labyrinth packing generally designated 51 and of the design illustrated in FIG. 9.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 11 the electrical connection between the tractor 1 and the trailer/semi-trailer 2 consists of two electrical cables 42 each containing three leads connected to three contact pins 54-56, 57-59 in the junction box 40 and 5456, 57 -59dro, respectively, in the in sulator body 19 of the locking bolt 11, for instance in one cable a stop light lead, a lead for the left-hand direction indicator and a ground wire common to them, and in the other cable a lead for the right-hand direction indicator, a lead for parking light and a ground wire common to them. Of the twoflexible air pressure conduits 41, one is a feed conduit for high pressure-about pounds per square inch-for the brakes of the trailer/semi-trailer and for the wheel lifting device 4 of the trailer 2, while the other is an operating conduit for the brakes. The electrical contact pins which are arranged in the locking bolt 11 and which may have fixed contact elements have their counterpart in for instance movable contact pins in the insulator body 44 of the junction box 40. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 use is made ofa single electrical cable having six leads.

Electrical contact between the contact pins is ensured by pressure engagement which is realized on one hand in that the locking bolt 11 is urged upwardly by the spring 20 against the underside of the sleeve-shaped ,king pin 30, and on the other hand in that the contact pine 54-57 in the insulator body 44 include contact elements 63 urged downwardly by springs 62, as shown in detail in FIG. where a contact pin, e.g., 54 is shown.

FIG. 12 shows one way of realizing connection between an air pressure line 41 in the coupling member 7 secured to the tractor and an air pressure line 41 in the coupling member 8 secured to the trailer/semitrailer 2. The tubes 70, 71 in the two insulator bodies 19, 44 may be of plastics material or metal, and connection between the tubes 70, 71 is realized by spring force in that the tube 70 in the locking bolt 11 of the coupling member 7 has a non-return valve 74 disposed in the widened end of the tube and loaded by a spring 72 into engagement with a valve seat 73, and a sleeve 75 movable against the action of the spring load on the non-return valve and having sealing means 76 for tight pressure engagement against the end of the tube 71. A locking ring 77 keeps the sealing means and the valve member of the non-return valve in position in the tube 70. This arrangement provides automatic closure of the air pressure lines in the coupling mechanism member 7 in the disengaged state thereof.

Coupling between the tractor 1 and the trailer vehicle 2 is realized by backing the tractor against the vehicle 2 when the latter occupies the position illustrated in FIG. 2, that is the vehicle 2 is supported with all wheels in ground contact in the manner of a full trailer, but with the draw bar 80 raised in order not to obstruct the coupling operation. The correct height position of the fifth wheel 9 is set by means of the height adjustment device 5 which is operated by means of a control in the tractor drivers cabin and consists of a bellows which is connected to the air pressure feed system of the tractor and disposed between the vehicle frame 1' and the pivotally mounted frame section 6 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 and as described more in detail in the following. When the tractor is backed after the correct height has been set, the hollow king pin 30 secured to the trailer 2 is passed into the opening of the fifth wheel 9 and into the groove 35 beneath the fifth wheel flange 36. However, to make this possible, the spring-loaded locking bolt 11 must first be pulled downwards out of the way, which is realized in that air is supplied to the compressed air box 21 for pulling down the locking bolt 11 against the action of the spring 20. When the king pin 30 has reached the correct final position in engagement with the fifth wheel 9 the locking bolt 11 is moved upwards and into the king pin 30 by air being discharged from the compressed air box. The two coupling members 7 and 8 are now coupled together.

However, in backing the tractor 1 against the trailer 2 it is difficult to ensure that the movement takes place with aligned longitudinal axes of the tractor and the trailer, thereby guaranteeing that the air pressure and electrical power lines have been correctly connected. Correct connection also at a certain angular position of the tractor relative to the trailer 2 is made possible in that the unit 40-45 in the coupling member 8 is rotatably mounted. To make manual angular setting unnecessary the unit 40-45 is provided with a pair of wedge-shaped or conical guide pins 81 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) which are adapted for engagement in complementary conical or wedge-shaped recesses 82 in the upper end of the coupling member 7 secured to the tractor. The recesses 82 have relatively wide upwardly facing mouths whereby the pins 81, which constitute male guides, can slide down into the recesses 82 which form female guides, the unit 40-45 being turned into correct position for establishing the described elcctrical connection and air pressure connection. To make a correct initial position possible for the unit 40-45 in the king pin 30 prior to connection, use is made ofa device illustrated in FIG. 8 and comprising a spring arm 84 which is connected at one end to a part 2 of the trailer/semi-trailer 2 and which at the outer end carries a roller 85 for engagement in a recess 86 in the flange 31.

In a preferred embodiment of the lifting device 5 for height adjustment of the frame section 6 said lifting device includes a sleeve-shaped vertical air bellows 90 which at the lower end is tightly connected by means of a circular set of bolts 93 (see FIG. 5) to a bottom plate 91 having lateral flanges 92. The marginal bead at the upper end of the bellows 90 is similarly connected in a tight manner by means of bolts 94 to a rigid top plate 95. Said top plate is connected by bars 96 to a short transverse beam 97 which is connected at its ends with the longitudinal fifth wheel frame beams 16a, 16b which are of box-shaped section. A central brace 99 extends between a fastening 98 on the short transverse beam and the front portion of the vehicle frame 1' and is pivotally connected with said fastening by means of a bearing including a rubber bushing 100 and is similarly connected at 101 with its front end to the vehicle frame 1. This device serves as a parallel guide for the air bellows 90 and, together with lateral guides formed by longitudinal frame beams 102 on either side of the pivotally mounted frame section 6, contributes to preventing wobbling of the bellows 90. As shown, the flanges 92 are connected to said frame beams 102. The pivotally mounted frame section 6 can be raised and lowered by means of the bellows 90 for an amount of approximately 30 cm, counted at the center of the fifth wheel 9.

The stroke length in an upward direction can be limited by means of abutments 103 (see FIG. 5). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the pivotally mounted frame section 6 as already mentioned is connected to the vehicle frame also by means of shock absorbers 10 which are mounted in a substantially vertical position between the vehicle frame 1' and the frame section 6, the shock absorbers being pivoted to said frame and to said frame section. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the shock absorbers 10 are connected at their lower ends with fastenings 105 on the vehicle frame 1, and the frame section 6 is rigidified by means of a number of transverse short beams 106-108 at the two ends and the central portion of said section.

Like the shock absorbers 10, the lifting device 5 can be utilized with a view to providing increased travelling comfort, apart from their use as height adjusting means.

The lifting device 4 for raising a front wheel pair of the trailer/semi-trailer 2 into semi-trailer position comprises one or two air bellows 111 connected to the wheel support 110 and being of a similar kind as the height adjusting bellows 90 already described. After the trailer 2 has been coupled to the tractor as a semitrailer, the wheel lifting bellows 111 are filled with air from the tractor 1 thereby to raise the wheels to the position in which they are shown in FIG. 1. To this end, the bellows are mounted beneath the frame 115 for the wheel support 110, said frame 115 being pivoted to the vehicle body 116 in a per se known manner for permitting the trailer to be used as a conventional trailer with steerable wheels. In FIG. 3 the lifting bellows 110 are shown filled with air and the front wheel axle 117 and wheels of the trailer 2 are in the raised position (cf. also FIG. 1). To this end, the wheel axle 117 in the construction illustrated in FIG. 3 is connected to the upper rigid end walls'118 of the bellows 111 by means of lifting arms 119, while the bellows 111 rest with their lower rigid end walls on a bracket table 120 carried at the underside of the frame 115.

As shown in FIG. 3 two draw beams I22 extend in a forward direction from the pivotally mounted frame 1 15, the trailer draw bar 80 being pivoted to the ends of said draw beams. Said draw beams are positioned laterally of the fifth wheel 9 when the trailer 2 is coupled to the tractor as a semi-trailer and do not obstruct articulation of the vehicle combination. When the trailer 2 is connected as a conventional full trailer the draw bar 80 is lowered and an eye 125 at the end of the bar is hooked onto a draw hook 126 secured to the rear end of the vehicle frame. At the use of the trailer 2 as a semi-trailer the front pivoting wheel supports thereof, to which the draw beams 122 are connected, should be locked for instance by locking of the draw bar 80 in raised position.

For establishing the air pressure and electrical power connection between the tractor 1 and the trailer 2 when the latter is used as a full trailer, use can be made of a service line connecting mechanism previously known in connection with trailers. This mechanism need not include any air line to the lifting device 4, which need not be used in trailer operation. To prevent dirtying of the connections of the semi-trailer couplings these may have closure means. In FIG. 4 there is shown at the fifth wheel 9 a closure means in the form of a plate 130 which is movable against the action of spring force in guides formed in said fifth wheel. The fifth wheel can also ensure that the locking bolt 11 cannot be urged upwards before the plate 130 has been moved aside, which takes place automatically as the connection is realized, when the locking bolt 11 is inserted in position and urged against the protective plate 130.

As will appear from the following the tractor l is equipped with controls for the maneuvers required for connecting together the units of the vehicle combination.

The electrical power system and the air pressure line system for the automatic semi-trailer coupling according to the present invention are diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. These figures illustrate the elements associated with the tractor to the left of a dash-and-dot line and those associated with the trailer 2 to the right of said dash-and-dot line.

When connecting together the tractor and the trailer/semi-trailer 2 it should first be checked that the draw bar 80 used with the trailer 2 as a full trailer has been swung to raised position and that a blue indicating lamp 200 is lighted. When lighted said lamp shows that the locking bolt 11 is pulled down into its lower position. The tractor l is then backed against the trailer/semi-trailer 2, the driver adjusting the suitable height level of the fifth wheel by means of the level control 202. When the tractor 1 has reached the correct position for the coupling member 7 to engage the coupling member 8a gear selecting lever 203 is set in position N and the driver interrupts the electrical contact in a switch 204 which opens a solenoid valve 205 releasing the air from the compressed air box 21, the locking bolt 11 being raised by means of the spring 20. Simultaneously as the driver interrupts the electrical contact in the switch 204 the blue indicating lamp is extinguished and a relay 206 is closed whereby a red warning lamp 207 is lighted. When the locking bolt 11 has been moved upwards into the correct position (locking position) an electrical contact is closed in a switch 209 which in turn disconnects a relay 208 and extinguishes the red warning lamp 207.

In conjunction with the connection of the air pressure and electrical power lines on establishing the mechanical coupling air flows from the air feed line via a three-way valve 210 to the lifting bellows 111 on the front wheel axle 1 17of the semi-trailer 2 and raises the semi-trailer into semi-trailer position. After that the driver adjusts the correct height of travel by means of the level control 202.

Furthermore, 212 designates an electrical microswitch which is adapted to interrupt the locking bolt operation when the tractor is driven with a semitrailer. 213 designates a relief valve between the feed line of the air pressure system and an air reservoir 214 for air pressure equalization. A filter 215 is disposed in the output air line of said reservoir. At the output side of the filter there is connected an air spring valve 216 for level control of the height adjusting bellows 90. 217 designates a relief valve which constitutes an air intake from the compressed air system. Finally, there are shown at 218 a dewatering valve for dewatering the compressed air, and at 219 a pressure switch controlled by the air pressure in the air line 42 and bypassing the switch 212.

FIG. 15 shows the same system as FIG. 11 but after coupling of the vehicle 2 for use as a semi-trailer.

In a modification two valves, viz. a pressure-controlled two-way valve and a relief valve (not shown), are substituted for the three-way valve 210. The relief valve opens at a certain pressure for admission of air to the lifting bellows, and when the king pin is released the pressure sinks in the air line and a non-return valve (not shown) is opened for venting the air from the bellows.

As already mentioned, the unit 40-45 for air pressure and electrical power connection in the semi-trailer coupling mechanism is rotatable in relation to the king pin and the frame of the trailer/semi-trailer 2 and is adapted to be guided into correct angular position, when coupling is effected, by means of the described guiding device. During driving, the described air pressure and electrical power connector unit 40-45 in the semi-trailer coupling member 8 secured to the trailer/semi-trailer 2 will turn to and fro with respect to the last mentioned coupling member because said unit 40-45 is guided by the guiding device 81, 82 into a definite angular position in relation to the fifth wheel 9.

This relative movement of the unit 40-45 in relation to the semiitrailer 2 can be exploited for control purposes in the manner illustrated in FIG. 13. Fixedly connected to the unit 40-45 is a swing arm 300 which extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the semi-trailer 2 when said axis is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tractor. At angular articulation of the tractor and the semi-trailer the swing arm 300 will retain its position relative to the tractor but will make an angle corresponding to said angular articulation with the longitudinal axis of the semi-trailer. These relative movements may be taken out as movements of pull at wires 301 secured to the ends of the swing arm 300, and these wires 301 may be connected to the rear wheel axle of the semi-trailer for steering said axle. Alternatively, the wires or some other transmission mechanism may control for instance stabilizers for the semi-trailer 2, such as air springs or hydraulic control means. The pull exerted at the wires 301 may be utilized for direct operation of the means or device to be operated (or controlled), or may actuate an electrical or pneumatical device such as switches or valves for instance solenoid valves, for the described control or operation.

The unit 40-45 and its connection with the locking bolt 11 can be made accordingly stronger as required for the desired power output.

It will appear from the above that it is the king pin 30 that is rotated in relation to the locking bolt 11 and the unit 40-45 during driving. The bolt 11 and the unit 4045 thus together constitute an assembly which may be non-rotatable in relation to the tractor, for instance by means of a guide (not shown) between the bolt 11 and the sleeve 14 in FIG. 7. However, it is preferred to have a certain angular mobility that may be permitted within the scope of strength of the diaphragm 24.

While but one tractor l and one trailer/semi-trailer 2 have been described in the foregoing it is understood that a vehicle combination of the type shown in FIG. I can be supplemented with one or more similar trailers connected to the trailer/semi-trailer 2. Of course, use can be made of hydraulical or electrical lifting means instead of the pneumatical lifting means 4, illustrated for the pivotally mounted frame section 6 and for the front wheels 3 of the trailer 2. Also many other modifications -are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims.

l. A mechanism for coupling a tractor and a semitrailer, the tractor being equipped with electrical and pressurized fluid power sources and power supply lines connected with said power sources, and the semi-trailer being equipped with service lines adapted to be connected with said power supply lines in the tractor, said semi-trailer comprising a semi-trailer coupling means including a fifth wheel mechanism supported on the rear end portion of the tractor and a king pin member supported at the front end of the semi-trailer; said fifth wheel mechanism including a locking bolt member, said members having each a central open ended cavity conformed such that the cavity in one of these members is adapted to receive an end portion of the other member to permit, by insertion of the latter member in the former, interlocking of said king pin and fifth wheel mechanism; first connector mounted in said cavity in What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent the locking bolt and having connecting elements connected with said power supply lines in the tractor, and a second connector mounted in said cavity in the king pin, said second connector being complementary of said first connector and having connecting elements connected with said service lines in the semi-trailer and adapted to be connected with the connecting elements of said first connector upon insertion of said other member in said one member to connect said power supply lines with said service lines simultaneously with said interlocking of the locking bolt and king pin, at least one of said connectors being rotatably mounted in its associated cavity and having means for positively cooperating with the other connector and to prevent relative rotation of said members.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector member in the king pin is rotatably mounted in relation to the king pin, and the king pin is nonrotatably connected to the semi-trailer.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connector member in the king pin and the connector member in the locking bolt or the locking bolt proper are provided with means for automatic angular orientation of one connector member in relation to the other connector member during the coupling operation to turn either connector member to an angular position necessary for the correct connecting position between the connecting elements.

4. A mechanism for coupling a tractor and a semitrailer the mechanism comprising in combination, a fifth wheel support secured to the tractor for the semitrailer, said support having an opening, a king pin receivable in the opening in said support and being connected to the semi-trailer, a hollow locking bolt secured to the tractor, the king pin also being hollow for receipt of the locking bolt in the king pin or viceversa, said king pin in at least an upper portion thereof having a connector member with connecting elements for electrical power lines, pneumatical and/or hydraulical lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, said locking bolt having a connector member complementary to said first connector member and including elements for service lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, the connector member in the king pin being rotatably mounted in relation to the king pin, the king pin being non-rotatably connected to the semitrailer, one of the connector members having means for automatic angular orientation of one connector member in relation to the other connector member during the coupling operation to turn either connector member to an angular position necessary for properly orientating the connecting elements, and latch means connected to the semi-trailer and releasably engagable at a certain point on the connector member to hold said last defined connector member in predetermined angular position in relation to a fixed point on the semitrailer.

5. A mechanism for coupling a .tractor and a semitrailer, comprising in combination a fifth wheel support secured to the tractor for the semi-trailer and having an opening, a hollow king pin receivable in said opening in said support, said king pin being secured to the semitrailer, a hollow locking bolt secured to the tractor for engagement of the locking bolt in the king pin or viceversa, said king pin in at least an upper portion thereof having a connector member with connecting elements for electrical power lines, pneumatical lines, and/or hydraulical lines leading from the tractor to the semitrailer, the locking bolt having a connector member complementary to the connector member of the king pin and including connecting elements for service lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, said connector member in the king pin being adapted to be fixedly connected to the connector member in the locking bolt when the semi-trailer and tractor are coupled to each other, said connector member in the king pin being connected to means for transmitting power or movement dependent upon the angular articulation of the semi-trailer and the two coupled together connector members, to a point on one of the semi-trailer and tractor, at which point said power of said movement is exploited for control or like purposes.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the power or speed transmission means is a wire means connected to the connector member in the king pin and adapted to be operated by said connector member at angular articulation of the semi-trailer with respect to the tractor.

7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wire means is connected at least one arm of the connector member.

8. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connecting elements in the connector members include electrical contact pins, and wherein there is further included electrical leads connecting the contact pins in said last defined connector member to the electrical system of the tractor, said contact pins being adapted upon mechanical coupling of the tractor and the semitrailer to be automatically guided into end-to-end engagement with conforming contact pins in the connector member of the king pin, said last mentioned contact pins being connected to the electrical line system in the semi-trailer for brake lights, reversing light, direction indicating light etc.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 including spring means for urging the king pin and locking bolt into engagement with each other for urging the electrical contact pins into engagement with each other.

10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein at least the electrical contact pins in one connector member each include a socket-shaped portion and a contact pin movable therein, spring means biasing said last defined contact pin against an abutment, said last defined contact pin being insertable in the socket against the biasing force of said spring means, said spring means maintaining the contact pin in end-to-end engagement with a fixed contact pin in the other connecting member.

11. A mechanism for coupling a tractor and a semitrailer, including connecting elements for electrical power lines, pneumatic lines and/or hydraulic lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, said mechanism including:

a coupling mechanism including a fifth wheel or like support secured to a tractor,

a hollow king pin, non-rotatably secured to a semitrailer,

an opening in said support adapted for receiving said hollow king pin,

a hollow locking bolt within said opening adapted for engagement with said hollow king pin, the improvement comprising a connector member in at least an upper portion of said hollow king pin, rotatably mounted in relation to said non-rotatable hollow king pin, and

a connector member mounted in said hollow locking bolt, complementary with said connector member rotatably mounted in said king pin, and provided with the means for automatic angular orientation of one connector member in relation to the other connector member during a coupling operation, and

latch means attached to said connector member in said king pin including a spring arm with a cam means adapted for insertion in a recess at a point on the circumference of said connector member in said king pin, whereby said connector member is adapted to be releasably held in a pre-determined angular position in relation to a fixed point on said semi-trailer. 

1. A mechanism for coupling a tractor and a semi-trailer, the tractor being equipped with electrical and pressurized fluid power sources and power supply lines connected with said power sources, and the semi-trailer being equipped with service lines adapted to be connected with said power supply lines in the tractor, said semi-trailer comprising a semi-trailer coupling means including a fifth wheel mechanism supported on the rear end portion of the tractor and a king pin member supported at the front end of the semi-trailer; said fifth wheel mechanism including a locking bolt member, said members having each a central open ended cavity conformed such that the cavity in one of these members is adapted to receive an end portion of the other member to permit, by insertion of the latter member in the former, interlocking of said king pin and fifth wheel mechanism; first connector mounted in said cavity in the locking bolt and having connecting elements connected with said power supply lines in the tractor, and a second connector mounted in said cavity in the king pin, said second connector being complementary of said first connector and having connecting elements connected with said service lines in the semi-trailer and adapted to be connected with the connecting elements of said first connector upon insertion of said other member in said one member to connect said power supply lines with said service lines simultaneously with said interlocking of the locking bolt and king pin, at least one of said connectors being rotatably mounted in its associated cavity and having means for positively cooperating with the other connector and to prevent relative rotation of said members.
 2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector member in the king pin is rotatably mounted in relation to the king pin, and the king pin is non-rotatably connected to the semi-trailer.
 3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connector member in the king pin and the connector member in the locking bolt or the locking bolt proper are provided with means for automatic angular orientation of one connector member in relation to the other connector member during the coupling operation to turn either connector member to an angular position necessary for the correct connecting position between the connecting elements.
 4. A mechanism for coupling a tractor and a semi-trailer the mechanism comprising in combination, a fifth wheel support secured to the tractor for the semi-trailer, said support having an opening, a king pin receivable in the opening in said support and being connected to the semi-trailer, a hollow locking bolt secured to the tractor, the king pin also being hollow for receipt of the locking bolt in the king pin or vice-versa, said king pin in at least an upper portion thereof having a connector member with connecting elements for electrical power lines, pneumatical and/or hydraulical lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, said locking bolt having a connector member complementary to said first connector member and including elements for service lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, the connector member in the king pin being rotatably mounted in relation to the king pin, the king pin being non-rotatably connected to the semi-trailer, one of the connector members having means for automatic angular orientation of one connector member in relation to the other connector member during the coupling operation to turn either connector member to an angular position necessary for properly orientating the connecting elements, and latch means connected to the semi-trailer and releasably engagable at a certain point on the connector member to hold said last defined connector member in predetermined angular position in relation to a fixed point on the semi-trailer.
 5. A mechanism for coupling a tractor and a semi-trailer, comprising in combination a fifth wheel support secured to the tractor for the semi-trailer and having an opening, a hollow king pin receivable in said opening in said support, said king pin being secured to the semi-trailer, a hollow locking bolt secured to the tractor for engagement of the locking bolt in the king pin or vice-versa, said king pin in at least an upper portion thereof having a connector member with connecting elements for electrical power lines, pneumatical lines, and/or hydraulical lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, the locking bolt having a connector member complementary to the connector member of the king pin and including connecting elements for service lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, said connector member in the king pin being adapted to be fixedly connected to the connector member in the locking bolt when the semi-trailer and tractor are coupled to each other, said connector member in the king pin being connected to means for transmitting power or movement dependent upon the angular articulation of the semi-trailer and the two coupled together connector members, to a point on one of the semi-trailer and tractor, at which point said power of said movement is exploited for control or like purposes.
 6. A mechanism As claimed in claim 5, wherein the power or speed transmission means is a wire means connected to the connector member in the king pin and adapted to be operated by said connector member at angular articulation of the semi-trailer with respect to the tractor.
 7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wire means is connected at least one arm of the connector member.
 8. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connecting elements in the connector members include electrical contact pins, and wherein there is further included electrical leads connecting the contact pins in said last defined connector member to the electrical system of the tractor, said contact pins being adapted upon mechanical coupling of the tractor and the semi-trailer to be automatically guided into end-to-end engagement with conforming contact pins in the connector member of the king pin, said last mentioned contact pins being connected to the electrical line system in the semi-trailer for brake lights, reversing light, direction indicating light etc.
 9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 including spring means for urging the king pin and locking bolt into engagement with each other for urging the electrical contact pins into engagement with each other.
 10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein at least the electrical contact pins in one connector member each include a socket-shaped portion and a contact pin movable therein, spring means biasing said last defined contact pin against an abutment, said last defined contact pin being insertable in the socket against the biasing force of said spring means, said spring means maintaining the contact pin in end-to-end engagement with a fixed contact pin in the other connecting member.
 11. A mechanism for coupling a tractor and a semi-trailer, including connecting elements for electrical power lines, pneumatic lines and/or hydraulic lines leading from the tractor to the semi-trailer, said mechanism including: a coupling mechanism including a fifth wheel or like support secured to a tractor, a hollow king pin, non-rotatably secured to a semi-trailer, an opening in said support adapted for receiving said hollow king pin, a hollow locking bolt within said opening adapted for engagement with said hollow king pin, the improvement comprising a connector member in at least an upper portion of said hollow king pin, rotatably mounted in relation to said non-rotatable hollow king pin, and a connector member mounted in said hollow locking bolt, complementary with said connector member rotatably mounted in said king pin, and provided with the means for automatic angular orientation of one connector member in relation to the other connector member during a coupling operation, and latch means attached to said connector member in said king pin including a spring arm with a cam means adapted for insertion in a recess at a point on the circumference of said connector member in said king pin, whereby said connector member is adapted to be releasably held in a pre-determined angular position in relation to a fixed point on said semi-trailer. 